Beach Day (Day 3)

Sunday, Jan 8th
We started the day out by finding a nearby church to attend Sacrament Meeting at. It also happened to be Fast and Testimony meeting.  It was kinda funny when this guy got up and made from of Utah Mormons......... i was thinking, "um, with all the visitors you have to this ward you MIGHT not want to say that.."
Then sweet Tianna insisted on getting up.
She said, "Hi. I'm Tianna Mary Peacock from Santaquin Utah. I know the Church is true and my family loves me. I hope you have a good day. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. "  It was so cute and so sweet. She absolutely loves baring her testimony and she could care less what ward we are attending. Just last month she bore it in my brother's ward the day they blessed Bridger. It makes a mama proud!

Okay, off my tangent: That afternoon we spent our time at Newport Beach.  (Thanks to Luke and his GPS for getting us all around Orange County)
The beach was gorgeous! The weather was perfect! I forgot what month it was! It must have been "cold" for the locals but to us it was warm and sunny.

 

The first thing we did was have a picnic. More of it went to the seagulls than I care to admit. but  the girls enjoyed feeding them and then chasing them away.

We searched for seashells all the way across the beach to the pier.  Tianna couldn't take 3 steps without stopping to dig in the sand.

It was magical watching those 2 cuties experience the ocean for the first time.  Technically, Tianna went to Hawaii and spent a lot of time at beaches, but she was only 6 months old so it doesn't really count.  They both LOOOOOOVED it!  It was one of the most educational day we've ever had!

As we walked back from the pier we went to the water's edge for the girls to see the ocean close up.  well SOME Of us only went to the edge.  Adelia felt like she needed to run to Catalina Island.  It wasn't long before she had to be stripped of her wet jeans and run around in just a soggy diaper.

They saw a pelican up close and personal (so personal as it flew over Luke's head he felt the wings brush him on the head  and when he landed right by the fisherman who had just made a catch, I got poked in the bum by his wing.) We also saw star fish, crabs, and all sorts of other amazing creatures!

I wish we lived closer to an ocean! It was an amazing day! 

CALI-FORN-I-A: Day 2

Day 2 started out later than originally planned.  When Adelia woke up she had a fever.  Hmm.. fever plus ear ache.....I wonder what it could be! not.
We had to wait until 9 am for the Insta Care to open then got her right in.  Sure enough, ear infection.  Greaaaaaaaaaaat.
Off to Target for her prescription and THEN we were on our way.

We saw a lot of this: 

 At last we arrived at our hotel in Anaheim around 4:00 pm (California time.)  

The lobby had a really cool chair.. or throne, rather 

 And some other sweet castle stuff

Since it was still so early we decided to have ourselves some fun Medieval style at Medieval Times.  Delicious dinner that you "have" to eat with your hands and then cheer on your team's knight as he kicks trash-- or at least OURS did ;) GO BLUE KNIGHT!

After each round the Knight that accomplished the tasks received a flower which he then threw to an audience member.  Since we were so late ordering reservations we were way in the back and thought we were total longshots at getting Tianna a flower.  

After no luck for several rounds we had her stand up on her chair as we pointed to her.  The ever awesome Blue Knight noticed and threw the flower right to her! It was FANTASTIC!

And Tianna was kind enough to share it with her little sister

Other awesome things about the show:
 -The magnificent horses.  One danced all over the arena-- like it was salsa dancing or something... definitely a highlight, especially for Mom.
 -The knight's fighting that was so intense sparks literally flew from their clashing blades.
- cheering for our knight and being on the team with one who won most of the rounds

It really was a cool night (with KNIGHTS) and recommend the show to anyone.  The food was excellent (you get a half a chicken EACH) and the show was amazing. Get a coupon/discount and check it out! We are sure glad we did.

CALI-FORN-I-A: Day 1

On Friday, January 6, 2012, we began our journey to DISNEYLAND!!!! Whoot Whoot!
My parent's met us at our house and we took off to St. George for the night.

On our way and smiling! (well, except for Tianna who apparently was really bored)

 Half way and he's still cute.. I mean, still driving

 I was there too

 And I had cute Minnie Mouse themed nail polish :) 

 Taking care of the kiddos for that many hours does something to a person..

 Mama Wombat was still smiling though..oh and look, so is Tianna now too!

That night ended up being really quite miserable for us.  Adelia slept about 2 hours before she woke up and cried and cried and squirmed for a few hours. Eventually she told us her ear hurt. Then wouldn't allow me to do anything to help it feel better.  It made for a very long night. Finally,out of pure exhaustion, she fell asleep and we got a few hours of zzz's.

WELCOME 2 THOUSAND 12

As this is the front page our our 2012 blog book I wanted a little better introduction to the year than I have had in the past.  I love printing my books and having them as our family journal and our scrapbook.

 (my brother Jason makes fun of me for writing so much... and he's probably right that no one cares to read all of it...... but I don't keep up with this blog for anyone but me and my little family.) It is the only thing we have to document our lives and the ups and the downs we face together each year. 

2012 is going to be an awesome year for us. I can just feel it! It's going to start out with an amazing family vacation to Disneyland-- a trip we have been dreaming of for a long, long time. 

Immediately after that trip, Luke gets to go to Japan on a business trip. He's really looking forward to that (probably has a lot to do with the fact he'll get to eat lots and lots of SUSHI!) He is still enjoying his job very much and looks forward to what this year will bring for him in his new career. 

Tianna will start Kindergarten this fall and will experience so many wonderful things because of it: new friends, homework, a real schedule, and learning and learning and learning. 

Adelia will turn 3 (HOLY COW how did that happen?!) and will also grow and change so much. Item number one on our list for her is to get potty trained. Yay for me... :( I hate that job with a passion, but, like it or not, it is pretty important I guess. 

As for me, well, I don't have anything super amazing coming up, but I plan to enjoy this year very much.  I might even run a half marathon in July if I can stay motivated enough. I have a goal to attend the aerobics class held at a nearby church as often as possible, and hopefully that keeps me in the momentum so I can join his mom and grandma (yes, grandma) as they run the 1/2 in Bryce Canyon this July.  

With that, welcome 2012!!!  Can't wait for the fun and exciting things you bring us this year!

New Years Eve and Everything else in between

Between Christmas and New Years was rather uneventful.  Luke had to work 3 of the days, the stomach flu went rampant through the cabin (starting with me. Sorry again, guys!) and there was hardly any snow to play in except for on the driveway.

We went on a lot of walks. (which was actually really nice) Casey had back surgery and needed to go on several walks a day and it was a good excuse to get outside and get some exercise too.

We also went trap and pistol shootings quite a bit as well.  Glad to know I am still pretty good with a shot gun ;)                           

 Neil and Bonnie opened their photo block tower.

 Payton and Adelia in one, Rylie, Tianna and Pyper in the other. 

 It was kinda sad not having a single snowmobile ride.  

Grandpa and his gaggle of girlies!

Whino Wides! (Rhino rides)

NEW YEARS EVE

 The yummy spread!

 Don't ya just love the "natural" smiles Adelia makes lately?

 I am so lucky to have this guy by my side to ring in the new year! 

To all of our family and friends, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

May 2012 be the best year EVER!!!!!!!!